We were lucky to catch up with Emilie Gay recently and have shared our conversation below.

Emilie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

At the very beginning of Emtentions, the main goal was to connect with people in the community over a shared love of nature and sustainability. Starting out, I sold houseplants but ended up pivoting towards a do it yourself business model that allowed people to gain a hands on component that was both interactive and educational by creating the traveling Terrarium Bar. This opened the door to so much creativity for both myself and my customers, as there are no limits to what you can do with a terrarium. This was a product I wanted to be accessible to any and every one and ensured that accessibility by offering multiple sized terrariums at different price points. This has allowed such a wide range of ages and abilities. Even entire families have gotten in on it together and it’s rewarding to watch them bond over a living piece of nature that they can keep forever. A big reason for going this route is also the ease of caring for terrariums, as they are enclosed ecosystems that only need to be watered once or twice a year. It is mess free because of the containment of the dirt, moss, wood, and plants. It always brings so much joy to my heart to see the smiles on the faces of customers as they admire their finished living art piece.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

At my core, I am an avid lover of plants and animals and take a lot of inspiration from the natural world, specifically the mountains. Moss filled forests are a safe space for me and provide a sense of calm that I wanted to be able to share in the form of a long lasting, quality product. Terrariums were something I did with my long time partner as gifts for loved ones and it took off from there. It’s an activity that also allows one to remember how intricate nature is and how ecosystems function as a whole. There is a need for balance and intention that serves as a reminder to truly appreciate the world we live in and hopefully translates to being more mindful of how we treat our planet. Every element that goes into these tiny worlds is ethically sourced and carefully cleaned to ensure the success of the terrarium, including the creation of a special soil blend that took time to perfect.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I first started operating as a business, I was hopping on the popularity of houseplants during the height of the pandemic. I attempted a unique angle by selling in upcycled pots, but quickly realized that there were established businesses already doing it better. I was inspired to find a way to interact directly with customers while also giving them the ability to create something of their own that is rooted in nature. Through the advisement of a local creative, I was able to execute the Terrarium Bar which has since been the most rewarding path. It has taken time to streamline it to give the ability to travel and pop up anywhere while also offering a wide range of elements with which to create.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Markets and workshops make up the majority of my business at the moment, and word of mouth has been the source of most of my customers. I have had many people come make terrariums as a result of being gifted one or hearing about family or friends share their experience of crafting with Emtentions. It goes to show how important being involved in the local scene makes an impact not only as a business, but as a connected part of the community.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emtentions/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emtentions/

Image Credits
Downtown Ilm Market